A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §8-12-5f, relating to
authorizing Class I and Class II municipalities to regulate
taxicabs and taxi stands by ordinance.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-12-5f, to read as
follows:

ARTICLE 12. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC POWERS, DUTIES AND ALLIED
RELATIONS OF MUNICIPALITIES, GOVERNING BODIES AND
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; SUITS AGAINST
MUNICIPALITIES.

§8-12-5f. Regulation of taxicabs and taxi stands.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of article two, chapter
twenty-four-a of this code, the governing body of a Class I or
Class II municipality may, by ordinance, regulate taxicabs and taxi
stands within the corporate limits of the municipality and five
miles beyond the corporate limits of the municipality if taxicabs
serve the area.

(b) The regulations shall be limited to the following:

(1) Requirements for the condition of the taxicabs;

(2) The location of taxi stands;

(3) Background checks for taxi drivers;

(4) Drug Testing for taxi drivers;

(5) Violations of regulations adopted pursuant to this section
for which citations may be issued and penalties imposed;

(6) The requirement that a taxicab company place a sign,
visible to passengers, in the taxicab which contains a telephone
number passengers may call to make complaints about the taxicab
company or its taxi drivers; and

(7) Requirements for safety inspections of the taxicabs.

(c) This section is not intended to increase the number of
operators or owners of taxicabs and taxi stands.